Comcast Is Buying NBC. Or Not.Rumors suggest company is at least considering it 07:51AM Thursday Oct 01 2009 by Karl Bodetags: business · cable · ComcastTipped by jacour  A few weeks ago rumors began to bubble over that Comcast, the nation's largest cable operator, has been saving its pennies to make a major content acquisition. By major, the rumors suggested the company could go after such giants as Viacom or Time Warner, harkening back to the days when Comcast failed to acquire Disney. According to The Wrap, Comcast is in talks with General Electric to acquire NBC Universal: Deal points were hammered out at a meeting among bankers for both sides in New York on Tuesday, executives familiar with the meeting said. Two individuals informed about the meeting said that a deal had already been completed at a purchase price of $35 billion. "While we do not normally comment on M&A rumors, the report that Comcast has a deal to purchase NBC Universal is inaccurate," says the company. The careful wording of that statement could suggest the deal is forthcoming but not finished. The LA Times suggests as much, inferring that Comcast is "kicking the tires" at NBC. NBC is estimated to be worth between $30 billion to $35 billion.
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 MightyPez
join:2002-05-01
Saint Paul, MN | But, will the Sheinhardt Wig Company let it go so easily? | |
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topoopon
join:2001-11-20
Bensalem, PA | Re: But, Blurrgh. | |
| JSRoman
Premium
join:2005-03-10
Callahan, FL
1 edit | How many of these channels do you watch on daily basis? The formation of NBC Universal saw the establishment of NBC Universal Cable, which oversees the distribution, marketing, and advertisement sales for thirteen channels (Bravo, Bravo HD+ (eventually renamed Universal HD), Chiller, CNBC, CNBC World, MSNBC, mun2, Syfy, ShopNBC, Telemundo, Sleuth, USA Network and the Olympic Games on cable). NBC Universal Cable also manages the company's investments in A&E, the History Channel, History Channel International, the Biography Channel, National Geographic International, and TiVo. It formerly owned NBC Weather Plus until acquiring The Weather Channel in 2008.
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC_Universal
Not many in my household. SYFY,Bravo,NGI,THC and TWC during hurricane season. Most likely less than 2 hours a week all combined.
This deal gets thumbs down
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nixen
Rockin' the Boxen
Premium
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA
 ·Cox HSI
 ·Speakeasy
| Re: How many of these channels do you watch on daily basis? said by JSRoman :The formation of NBC Universal saw the establishment of NBC Universal Cable, which oversees the distribution, marketing, and advertisement sales for thirteen channels (Bravo, Bravo HD+ (eventually renamed Universal HD), Chiller, CNBC, CNBC World, MSNBC, mun2, Syfy, ShopNBC, Telemundo, Sleuth, USA Network and the Olympic Games on cable). NBC Universal Cable also manages the company's investments in A&E, the History Channel, History Channel International, the Biography Channel, National Geographic International, and TiVo. It formerly owned NBC Weather Plus until acquiring The Weather Channel in 2008. Fox/News is listed as owning most of the National Geographic channels.
said by JSRoman :» en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC_UniversalNot many in my household. SYFY,Bravo,NGI,THC and TWC during hurricane season. Most likely less than 2 hours a week all combined. This deal gets thumbs down Maybe they should buy the Discovery Networks. I watch a LOT of their channels (pretty much, when I'm not watching Cartoon Network for Adult Swim, I'm watching Discovery Networks channels).
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The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. -- Bertrand Russell | |
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TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
|  Still may be something to it
»mediamemo.allthingsd.com/2009093···billion/
here’s the report: Sharon Waxman of TheWrap says cable giant Comcast (CMCSA) is buying all of NBC Universal from GE (GE) for $35 billion. The deal was hammered out by reps at a Tuesday meeting, Waxman reports, citing “two individuals informed about the meeting” Comcast, in a statement, says the story is untrue: “”While we do not normally comment on M&A rumors, the report that Comcast has a deal to purchase NBC Universal is inaccurate.” NBC Univesal has no comment.
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| | flyingjoey
join:2005-11-07
Jersey City, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
| Re: Still may be something to it Don't forget, everyone is hurting for cash, and NBC Universal is still a profitable business within GE. Anything is possibly, but I highly doubt GE is willing to give up one of their revenue sources. If anything, they'll spin off GE Money Bank which is in the toilet.
Rumors have always existed, last year it was that Warner Bros & NBC Univ. were going to merge and nothing happened.
Anything is possible don't forget Vivendi owns about 20% of NBCU. Who knows, maybe Vivendi will sell their portion of the company.
To make a long story short, and as NBCU employee I don't mind the arrangement we have with GE. We're all GE employees at the end of the day which opens our doors to other GE businesses. If I get tired of being on the entertainment side of the house, I could move internally and up to GE with minimal effort. Now Comcast... could be career suicide for some of us. | |
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs: | It would be beneficial to buy someone... Maybe NBC, or maybe another content distributer.
Could lower prices to Comcast, in turn they wouldn't have to raise rates so fast. Plus maybe they could eliminate that 99 cents surcharge on NBC VOD material. | |
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Cthen
join:2004-08-01
Ypsilanti, MI
·Comcast
| Re: It would be beneficial to buy someone... No offence but your only dreaming if you think any of that would happen.
Here is how the reality of it will most likely go.
Comcast will keep pricing right where it is.
They will wait a while then raise rates, after all, some one has to pay for this acquisition.
The 99 cents surcharge on VOD will stay as it will be a new revenue stream.
Then another raise in rates blaming the other content providers while acting innocent.
Then yet another raise in rates for content providers raising their rates in retaliation for Comcast raising the rates on NBC for them.
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avd706
insert annoying animated gif here
Premium
join:2003-02-06
Union, NJ
| Re: It would be beneficial to buy someone... said by Cthen :No offence but your only dreaming if you think any of that would happen. Here is how the reality of it will most likely go. Comcast will keep pricing right where it is. They will wait a while then raise rates, after all, some one has to pay for this acquisition. The 99 cents surcharge on VOD will stay as it will be a new revenue stream. Then another raise in rates blaming the other content providers while acting innocent. Then yet another raise in rates for content providers raising their rates in retaliation for Comcast raising the rates on NBC for them. Then block content from HULU and VZ Fios
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs:
| Re: It would be beneficial to buy someone... said by avd706 :Then block content from HULU and VZ Fios Or shutdown Hulu completely and make everyone go through Fancast. There's duplicate content available on both Fancast and Hulu already. | |
| | | Joe12345678
join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL | Just think what they can do to mess up the Olympics If they try to pull a VS and try to make it cable only they will be in for some big time loss as if they do that carp likely in 2012 espn or some other group will very likely get them. | |
| | patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
1 edit | Re: Just think what they can do to mess up the Olympics Only 15% get their TV through OTA, %60 cable, %25 rest satellite. OTA TV is dead in this country. Judge John Doe, Jerry Springer, gameshows, reality shows, talk shows, and violence, blood, sex news means only the lowest most feeble minded people watch it. Plus the above has very low production costs. Anyone with a spark in their head wants the content diversity and specialization of cable-ish TV (includes satellite and telco TV). Although there are some people who generally don't watch TV, and only watch 1 or 2 shows on OTA TV, usually the primetimes, and because they have so little time to devote to TV, a cable subscription isn't worth it.
Having the Olympics on ESPN or cable is inevitable. | |
| | | AstroBoy
join:2008-08-08
Parkville, MD | I guess we are paying way too much for cable I guess we are paying way too much for cable if they have 35G bucks to spend. | |
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jeffhambone
Peace, through superior firepower
join:2002-02-02
Manassas, VA
·Comcast
| Re: I guess we are paying way too much for cable One might think there would be efficiencies from more vertical integration that could be passed on as cost savings to subscribers.
What am I thinking, this is Comcast, after all... 
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Sarcasm is the Body's Natural Defense Against Stupidity | |
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beck
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-29
On The Road | This will be bad news for everyone Everyone will be paying more. The more they have, the more to bully everyone with. Sad, sad, sad. | |
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Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus
join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY
·Qwest.net
| Re: This will be bad news for everyone And GE selling off their suck-up on the air lobby for the present masters of Washington DC, and all of the Gov-Moola that might bring into GE. Carbon credits, wind power, etc I wouldn't be so sure.
I have not watched anything with an NBC in the name for years and years. So if NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, etc were to vanish I for one would not miss it.
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I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man's reasoning powers are not above the monkey's.
- Mark Twain in Eruption | |
| | | tankabbot
join:2009-08-30 | Re: This will be bad news for everyone I agree Transmaster!! | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sammer
join:2005-12-22
Canonsburg, PA | Consolidation of content and distribution is always bad news for consumers! | |
| PapaMidnight
join:2009-01-13
Baltimore, MD | I'd rather not... I'd personally rather it stay under GE than become part of the Comcast monopoly. | |
| | EPS
join:2008-02-13
Hingham, MA | Re: I'd rather not... Honestly I'd rather see it spun off into its own company if anything- I don't see why GE needs to own a media company. | |
| | | PapaMidnight
join:2009-01-13
Baltimore, MD
| Re: I'd rather not... said by EPS :Honestly I'd rather see it spun off into its own company if anything- I don't see why GE needs to own a media company. I don't disagree. | |
| | | flyingjoey
join:2005-11-07
Jersey City, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
| For the same reason that GE does Appliances, Aviation-engines, Banking, Credit Cards, Commercial Finance, Locomotives, Health, Lighting, Parks & Recreation, Energy, Gas, Oil, ... because it can!
Oh btw, GE is the world's largest Airplane owner. When airliners want to buy a new plane, GE finances the plane and holds the title to it until it's paid off.
The crap you learn during new employee orientantion. hahahahah! | |
| | | 
Alcohol
Premium
join:2003-05-26
Somerset, NJ
| said by EPS :Honestly I'd rather see it spun off into its own company if anything- I don't see why GE needs to own a media company. Yea that would make most sense. Ge nor comcast have any business owning NBC.
I hope comcast doesn't turn NBC into fox if this happens. fox has a habbit of canceling shows before giving them a real chance to succeed.
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I found the key to success but somebody changed the lock. | |
| | | | PapaMidnight
join:2009-01-13
Baltimore, MD
| Re: I'd rather not... said by Alcohol :said by EPS :Honestly I'd rather see it spun off into its own company if anything- I don't see why GE needs to own a media company. Yea that would make most sense. Ge nor comcast have any business owning NBC. I hope comcast doesn't turn NBC into fox if this happens. fox has a habbit of canceling shows before giving them a real chance to succeed. Why Comcast should not own a TV Network: Look what happened to TechTV. | |
| hsdguy
join:2001-06-17
Plymouth, MA | Arrrrrhhhhhh There goes the neighborhood ! now I know why they cut my 401k match and raised my insurance, I'm helping to pay for this deal. That's so COMTASTIC! Thanks Brian Roberts.
Your the Best! | |
| | beavercable
join:2008-05-11
Beaverton, OR | Re: Arrrrrhhhhhh Dont forget they outsourced day of install. | |
| | JSRoman
Premium
join:2005-03-10
Callahan, FL
| said by hsdguy :There goes the neighborhood ! now I know why they cut my 401k match and raised my insurance, I'm helping to pay for this deal. That's so COMTASTIC! Thanks Brian Roberts. Your the Best! The match up to 6%. That hasn't changed.
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| | | JSRoman
Premium
join:2005-03-10
Callahan, FL | Re: Arrrrrhhhhhh Correction. I opened my mail. 4.5% now. Not the end of the world.
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| | | | hsdguy
join:2001-06-17
Plymouth, MA | Re: Arrrrrhhhhhh Not the end of the world yet ! But when will it stop? | |
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SLD
Premium
join:2002-04-17 | Please.. ... stop allowing access providers from becoming content providers. Hasn't the FCC learned anything from the last decade?!? | |
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avd706
insert annoying animated gif here
Premium
join:2003-02-06
Union, NJ
| Re: Please.. said by SLD :... stop allowing access providers from becoming content providers. Hasn't the FCC learned anything from the last decade?!? Yes... support Broadcast Neutrality
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Morac
join:2001-08-30
Riverside, NJ
·Comcast
| At least, If Comcast bought NBC then at least they wouldn't be able to play the blame game with each other. I'm getting annoying cracks and pops on NBC channels out of Philly on Comcast.
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The Comcast Disney Avatar has been retired. | |
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DaveNJ
No Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey | 2 worse companies Comcast which has the lowest in customer satisfaction, add NBC which has the lowest in ad revenue almost bankrupt. Probably nothing good. NBC should sell itself off in pieces. Keeping NBC universal, and the weather channel. | |
| | hsdguy
join:2001-06-17
Plymouth, MA
| Re: 2 worse companies Yeah Comcast has to be one of the most poorly managed companies in the states with their poor customer service to techs that don't give a crap about your petty problems when they show up at your house. They just SUCK all around. Hope they go bankrupt very soon. | |
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